Draft Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Nov 16th

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, Nov 16th, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Whispering Palms School, Navy Hill
Meeting Minutes

“Operation Paint Over --- What do we want to do about/with graffiti in our community?”

Present: Laurie Peterka, Tyler Yoshimoto, Eric Atalig

Objectives:
1. Sign in (and introductions, if any)
2. Minutes and Agenda
a. Review/adopt meeting minutes from prior meeting (see attached; a limited number of paper copies will be available at meeting).
b. Review/adopt this meeting’s agenda
3. Welcome any new ideas and/or new participants
a. Eric Atalig – Neighborhood Watch Dist 1 & 2
4. Emails to share (if any) – Rebecca is working on her murals project for the lighthouse
5. Progress reports on
a. Photo journal project (Tyler & Laurie) – nothing new to report
b. Americorp Volunteers – not responding
6. Consider next steps:
a. Develop goals, measurable targets, and budget for 2010
i. Bringing in hardware and paint store managers
1. Paint sales policies
2. Discounts for graffiti abatement related paint purchases
3. Establish a community fund for graffiti abatement through paint sales
4. Public hotline to request help
a. Phone companies
b. Zoning Office
ii. Rotate “graffiti abatement teams” among businesses
1. Corporate participant supplies paint and employees
2. Saipan Chamber of Commerce
iii. Team with Neighborhood Watch on launching initial program
b. Timelines, goals, meetings – keep or modify?
i. Project leaders
ii. Take December off
iii. Restart third week of January 2010
7. Confirm next meeting date/time/location - Monday, Nov 30th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill

The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

15 minutes can Beautify CNMI!

Here's a sneak peek at the winning bumper sticker and slogan from the recent Beautify CNMI contest. I will announce the name of the winning student artist as soon as the stickers are printed. The winner gets $150 and 50 stickers.

Reminder: Graffiti Subcommittee Meeting Tonight

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, Nov 16th, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Whispering Palms School, Navy Hill
MEETING AGENDA

Objectives:
1. Sign in and introductions
2. Minutes and Agenda
a. Review/adopt meeting minutes from prior meeting (see attached; a limited number of paper copies will be available at meeting).
b. Review/adopt this meeting’s agenda
3. Welcome any new ideas and/or new participants
4. Emails to share (if any)
5. Progress reports on
a. Photo journal project (Tyler & Laurie)
b. HANMI Survey (Laurie & Shirata)
c. PSS Communications (Thelma)
6. Consider next steps:
a. Develop goals, measurable targets, and budget for 2010
i. Anonymous donor suggested project
ii. Bringing in hardware store managers
iii. Project leaders
b. Timelines, goals, meetings – keep or modify?
i. Take December off
ii. Restart third week of January 2010
7. Confirm next meeting date/time/location - Monday, Nov 30th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill
a. Laurie - Off island travel schedule
b. Meeting leadership

The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Draft Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Oct 26th

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, Oct 26th, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Whispering Palms School, Navy Hill
Meeting Minutes

“Operation Paint Over --- What do we want to do about/with graffiti in our community?”

Present: Laurie Peterka, Tyler Yoshimoto, Sen. Frica Pangelinan, Rebekah Yost, John Dax

Objectives:
1. Sign in and introductions
2. Minutes and Agenda
a. Review/adopt meeting minutes from prior meeting (see attached; a limited number of paper copies will be available at meeting).
b. Review/adopt this meeting’s agenda
c. Above adopted
3. Welcome any new ideas and/or new participants
a. Welcome to Senator Frica Pangelinan who brought with her info on the Mural of the Arts Program practiced in Philadelphia
b. Welcome to John Dax who is interested in getting involved in the planning and implementation side of graffiti abatement
4. Emails to share (if any) - NONE
5. Photo journal project (Tyler & Laurie)
a. Viewed photo journal
b. Discussed pictures, locations, patterns, etc.
6. Confirm next meeting date/time/location - Monday, Nov 9th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill – MOVED TO Monday, November 16

The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Operation CNMI Homefront Support

Operation CNMI Homefront Support is asking the community to provide their coalition with the names and addresses of local men and women currently serving our armed forces who will be away from home for the holidays. Their goal is to send a care package to all local military personnel who will be away from the islands this holiday season.

"This program was really well received by our troops last year and we want to let them know that we appreciate them and miss them," said John Hirsh of American Red Cross, "especially during the holiday season."

This is the second consecutive year Operation CNMI Homefront Support has organized care packages for our men and women in uniform on active duty. Care packages from last year included locally printed t-shirts, newspapers, magazines, food, and letters from loved ones.

"What we really need right now is for local families to give us the names and addresses of their loved ones serving in the military," said Candice Dunston of the American Red Cross. "We need donations, of course, but our first priority is to identify the soldiers, sailors, pilots, and marines to receive a care package."

Rotary Club of Saipan Director of Community Service Angelo O'Connor Villagomez added, "we're looking to send a care package to every one of our hometown heroes who is off defending our country, whether they be in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea or the United States."

Operation CNMI Homefront Support is sponsored by the American Red Cross, Marianas Cable Vision, and Rotary Club of Saipan. Names and addresses can be forwarded to Candice Dunston at homefrontsupport@nmi.redcross.org. Contact the Red Cross Chapter for additional information 234-3459.

Draft Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Oct 5th

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, October 5, 2009 - 5:30pm
Whispering Palm School, Navy Hill

“Operation Paint Over --- What do we want to do about/with graffiti in our community?”

Present: Laurie Peterka, Tyler Yoshimoto

Agenda/Objectives:
1. Sign in and introductions
2. Minutes and Agenda
a. Review/adopt meeting minutes from prior meeting (see attached; a limited number of paper copies will be available at meeting).
i. Tyler motioned to accept
ii. Laurie seconded
b. Review/adopt this meeting’s agenda
i. Tyler motioned to accept
ii. Laurie seconded
3. Welcome any new ideas and/or new participants – N/A
4. Emails to share (if any)
a. Anonymous donor suggested project(s)
i. Create a advertising/contest to promote awareness about graffiti
ii. Consider a poster awareness program targeted tourists
iii. Need to brainstorm further and discuss more at next meeting
iv. Probably something to consider after the initial photo journal project is complete
b. Penny Hofschneider - Invite public and private schools to form Beautify CNMI clubs and ask them to adopt a specific area in their vicinity that is often targeted.
c. Jim Arenovski for Crime Stoppers (CS) – will bring back materials from CS regional conference regarding youth and graffiti
d. Frank Camacho – been tied up but will be back for next meeting
e. Frica Pangelinan – will share her materials on the Mural Arts Program- Our City, Our Wall, Our Stories, Voices of Community at our next meeting.
f. Joannie Dubrall – coordinating with NMC students to help with photo journal project.
g. Rose Smith for Ladera Int’l School – will have her students help with photo journaling.
h. Thelma Cabrera – will make a report at next meeting regarding her contact with PSS principals.
5. Progress reports on
a. Photo journal project (Tyler & Laurie)
i. Discussed PPT layout
ii. Need to remind Angelo re project for 10/19 mtg
iii. List for villages is slowly filling in
iv. NMC students will likely join the photo journal project
b. HANMI Survey (Laurie & Shirata) – no progress
c. PSS Communications (Thelma) – tabled to next meeting
6. Consider next steps:
a. Bringing in hardware store managers (Ace Hardware, Guangdong, Do It Best, YCO, Transamerica)
i. Need a project leader
ii. Table to next meeting
iii. Discussed what the buy-in looks like and what the expected results could be if GM’s agree to setting specific policies about the purchase of spray paint (or maybe even regular paint)
iv. Need to see who else sells spray paint (i.e. office supply stores and craft stores)
v. Check the phone book to make sure all stakeholders are identified
b. Project leaders
i. Need hardware store idea leader
ii. Need photo contest/poster advertising project leader
iii. Need business-to-business outreach project (SCC Nov 1 meeting?)
c. Timelines, goals, meetings – keep or modify?
i. Continue collecting data, people through October
ii. Use November meetings to develop goals, measurable targets, and budget for 2010
iii. Take December off
iv. Restart second or third week of January 2010
7. Confirm next meeting date/time/location
a. Monday, Oct 19th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill
b. Meeting rescheduled to Monday, Oct 26th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill

The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Reminder: Graffiti Subcommittee Meeting Tonight

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, Oct 5th, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Whispering Palms School, Navy Hill

Agenda/Objectives:
1. Sign in and introductions
2. Minutes and Agenda
a. Review/adopt meeting minutes from prior meeting (see attached; a limited number of paper copies will be available at meeting).
b. Review/adopt this meeting’s agenda
3. Welcome any new ideas and/or new participants
4. Emails to share (if any)
5. Progress reports on
a. Photo journal project (Tyler & Laurie)
b. HANMI Survey (Laurie & Shirata)
c. PSS Communications (Thelma)
6. Consider next steps:
a. Anonymous donor suggested project
b. Bringing in hardware store managers
c. Project leaders
d. Timelines, goals, meetings – keep or modify?
i. Continue collecting data, people through October
ii. Use November meetings to develop goals, measurable targets, and budget for 2010
iii. Take December off
iv. Restart second or third week of January 2010
7. Confirm next meeting date/time/location - Monday, Oct 19th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill

The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Meeting Canceled Today

The Beautify CNMI October meeting scheduled for today, October 1, is canceled. Several people cannot attend. Apologies and I'll see you in November.

Draft Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Sept 21st

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, September 21, 2009 - 5:30pm

Whispering Palm School, Navy Hill



“Operation Paint Over --- What do we want to do about/with graffiti in our community?”



Present: Laurie Peterka, Tyler Yoshimoto, Angelo Villagomez, Thelma Cabrera, John Fury, Ichiro Shirata, John Fury



Agenda/Objectives:

1. Sign in and introductions
a. John Fury
b. Thelma Cabrera
2. Minutes and Agenda
a. Review/adopt meeting minutes from prior meeting (see attached; a limited number of paper copies will be available at meeting).
i. Tyler motioned to adopt minutes
ii. Angelo seconded
iii. No changes
b. Review/adopt this meeting’s agenda
i. Victor motioned to adopt agenda
ii. Angelo seconded
iii. No changes
3. Welcome any new ideas and/or new participants
a. Victor on Zoning board focus changes
i. Public nuisances – new focus on enforcement
ii. Laurie recommended that the issue be presented to BCNMI main committee
iii. Angelo noted that there has been no support at all regarding on enforcement
1. BCNMI is focused on education & outreach
2. Community can only go so far
b. Debra Inos – Division of Youth Services
i. Introduction 9/15; email follow up 9/20; phone conversation 9/21
ii. Very interested in seeing how she can cooperate with youth programs
iii. Will discuss being a government stakeholder
iv. Referred to monthly main BCNMI meeting
c. John Fury
i. Textbook on ecology – last chapter on Beautify CNMI
ii. Plans to look for funds to create ancillary materials to supplement each chapter for the textbook for teachers to use in the classroom
iii. Everyone threw out ideas
iv. Referred to monthly main BCNMI meeting
4. Emails to share (if any)
a. Bridge Capital has funds available
i. Need letter to request donation to ISK8 co-signed by BCNMI
ii. ACTION ITEM: Laurie to follow up
iii. Victor suggested using Bridge donation to fund a context for bus-shelter graphics
1. Students would do the painting
2. Different theme every year
b. Photo-journal email sent – see below
5. Progress reports on
a. ISK8 Graffiti Cleanup, Sept 12th - report by Laurie for Dan Westphal
i. Articles in both newspapers
ii. 50+ volunteers
b. Stakeholder list
i. Laurie’s organized a list
ii. Additional invites – everyone invite one more person
iii. Hit PSS “principals” meeting – ACTION ITEM: remind Thelma
iv. Bring in Hardware Store managers – ACTION ITEM: Need to assign
1. they can match colors for painting
2. get them to create a store policy to “sign for paint” purchases – no matter what your age
c. Photo journal project
i. Resend email larger number of people
ii. Move due date to Oct 12th
iii. ACTION ITEM: Laurie & Tyler to work on this
d. Zoning
i. Village meeting comments on graffiti – mtgs on hold until further notice
ii. “Green” walls
1. Consider as alternative to painting
2. Energy efficient
6. Consider next steps:
a. NMC - Current Issues January 2010 – ACTION ITEM: Laurie email McPhetres
b. HANMI survey – ACTION ITEM: Laurie & Shirata before next HAMNI mtg on 9/27
c. Anonymous Donor Suggested Project – table to next meeting
d. Project leaders
i. Tyler – Photojournal
ii. Ishiro – HANMI survey
iii. Thelma – PSS communications
iv. Victor – Zoning
v. John Fury – work with Judges, video projects, art council
e. Timelines, Goals, Meetings
i. Continue collecting data, people through October
ii. Use November meetings to develop goals, measurable targets, and budget for 2010
iii. Take December off
iv. Restart January 2nd 2010
7. Confirm next meeting date/time/location - Monday, Oct 5th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill

The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Note: Current organizational partners already committed include Rotary Club of Saipan and Island SK8 Society.

Beautify CNMI announces slogan and bumper sticker contest

Beautify CNMI is looking for a new slogan following the successful “What we do on the land can affect our marine environment” campaign started in 2006.

In order to find a new slogan, Beautify CNMI is looking to the community for help.

Artists are being asked to come up with a slogan and to design a bumper sticker that goes along with their slogan. The winner will receive $150 cash and fifty of their winning bumper stickers to give out to friends and family.

The contest is open to all residents of all ages of the Commonwealth. Guidelines for the slogan contest are:

• must be original
• must be relevant to the actions and mission of Beautify CNMI.
• The bumper sticker can be square or horizontally rectangular.
• Artists and participants can submit more than one design and more than one artist can work together on a single submission.
• Designs may be by free-hand sketch, drawing or computer generated, but must be in electronic format to be considered.
• Entries must be submitted by noon on October 24, 2009 and must include the artist's full name, mailing address, telephone number and email address if available.

A brief statement explaining the design and slogan may accompany entries.

All entries will become the property of Beautify CNMI and can be used freely by Beautify CNMI and must be received on or before Thursday, October 24, 2009 at noon. Entries are to be submitted via email to angelovillagomez@gmail.com.

Beautify CNMI reserves the right to modify the winning logo at any time but when possible, Beautify CNMI will work with the original artists to make these changes.

Beautify CNMI reserves the right to correct any information that appears in this contest in error and is not responsible for omissions.

For inquiries contact Angelo Villagomez at 670 285 6462

First Photos of International Coastal Cleanup

Since the Commonwealth lies 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, our day starts hours before your does. That means that the 600 or so volunteers participating in this year's International Coastal Cleanup on the islands of Saipan and Tinian were some of the first participants on the planet. Go us!

Saipan and Tinian had 19 adopted sites this year, our first year participating in this annual international event. We organized our cleanups the same way we organized last April's Island Wide Cleanup. Groups adopted a spot, recruited their own volunteers and set their own time, and the Beautify CNMI coalition supported them with free supplies and help hauling the garbage away.

As the Director of Community Service for the Rotary Club of Saipan I adopted and organized a cleanup of Tank Beach in Kagman. Tank Beach is a north facing beach and on Saipan that means that trash from the ocean washes up on it constantly; We mostly found rope, discarded fishing gear, small bits of plastic, and hundreds of water bottles. Unlike the beaches on the western shore of Saipan, we weren't finding plates, plastic forks, or dumped household garbage.

We spent about two hours scouring the beach for bits of plastic. When we were done we had amassed quite the pile of trash. I'm always amazed at how much trash you get from a seemingly clean beach when you pick it all up and put it in one place.

We'll know by Monday what the combined efforts of all 600 people are. Many hands make light work and with over 600 volunteers I expect that the amount of trash we picked off our beaches this morning to be in the thousands of pounds.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's event with special thanks going to Bridge Capital for funding our cleanup supplies and the Division of Environmental Quality for being the central organizers.

I have posted more photos on the Beautify CNMI Facebook Fan Page and other volunteers have posted photos on their profiles from cleanups at Jeffries Beach, Paupau Beach, and on Tinian.

International Coastal Cleanup Day

562 volunteers and climbing!!!
18 sites adopted
20 groups participating

International Coastal Cleanup Day is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2009. Several beaches on Saipan, Tinian and Rota have been adopted by government offices, businesses and community groups. Cleanups begin at 8:00 unless otherwise noted.

TINIAN:

Unai Dankalo
Tinian Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Phillip Mendiola-Long, 989-4711
Volunteers Expected: 30
8:00 AM

SAIPAN - NORTH END CLEANUPS:

Cow Town Beach
Professional Water Tech
Contact: Cecilio Silver Raikiulipiy, 288-0471
Volunteers Expected: 5
7:00 AM

Paupau Beach
Palms Resort Saipan
Contact: Ray C. Delacruz, 322-3311
Volunteers Expected: 15
7:30 AM

Paupau Beach
DFS Galleria
Contact: Marian Aldan-Pierce, 483-2505
Volunteers Expected: 20
8:00 AM

Paupau Beach
CNMI WIC Program
Contact: Bobbie Pangelinan, 664-4067
Volunteers Expected: 15
9:00 AM

Tanapag Beach
DEQ
Contact: Joe Kaipat, 664-8509
Volunteers Expected: 40
8:00 AM

Wing Beach
MINA
Contact: Sam Sablan, 233-7333
Volunteers Expected: 50
8:00 AM

SAIPAN - EASTERN SHORE CLEANUPS:

Tank Beach
Rotary Club of Saipan
Contact: Angelo Villagomez, 285-6462
Volunteers Expected: 20
8:00 AM

Marine Beach
Kagman High School Biology Club
Contact: Cristal Santos
Volunteers Expected: 30
8:00 AM

Old Man by the Sea
The Canucks
Contact: Jamie Beavis, 322-2337
Volunteers Expected: 15
9:00 AM

Jeffries Beach
CRMO
Contact: Brooke Nevitt, 664-8320
Volunteers Expected: 10
8:00 AM

South Laolao Beach
(meeting near the yellow pavilion near the road)
Friends of the Mariana Islands
Contact: Marites Castillo, 285-8980
Volunteers Expected: 20
8:00 AM

North Laolao Beach
(meeting at the divesite)
Saipan Laolao Bay Golf and Resort
Contact: Tony I. Dl Guerrero, 236-8888
Volunteers Expected: 20
8:00 AM

SAIPAN - LAGOON SIDE CLEANUPS:

Beach Road
(TSL Plaza to Carolinian Village)
Tan Holdings
Contact: Ed Arriola, Jr, 233-8080
Volunteers Expected: 100
9:00 AM

Garapan Fishing Base
Committee to Elect Juan Pan & Joe Camacho
Contact: Jolene Torres, 483-1728
Volunteers Expected: 20
8:00 AM

Beach Road - Makaka Beach
(Fiesta Resort to Hafa Adai Hotel)
Paseo de Marianas Promoters
Contact: Sonia Siwa, 234-6900
Volunteers Expected: 12
8:00 AM

Micro Beach
(Hyatt Regency Saipan to Smiling Cove)
Hyatt Regency Saipan and WDI Saipan, Inc
Contact: Lin Seman, 323-5867
Volunteers Expected: 70
7:00 AM

Kilili Beach
Mount Carmel School
Contact: Maria Balajadia, 285-9375
Volunteers Expected: 30
8:00 AM

Susupe Beach
CTSI Logistics
Contact: Argie Buensalido, 322-1690
Volunteers Expected: 20
8:00 AM



Cleanup supplies will be available at DEQ the week before the event and DEQ staff will transfer and dispose of all garbage.

For more information contact Angelo Villagomez at 670 285 6462 or Lisa Eller at DEQ at 670 664 8500.

Weekly Email Update: September 16

Hafa Adai,

I hope every stayed safe and dry over the typhoon-induced long weekend. My neighborhood lost a pair of Flame Trees, but other than that Choi Wan just brought a lot of rain.

Beautify CNMI gets back to work this weekend with the International Coastal Cleanup being led by Division of Environmental Quality and 13 other volunteer groups that have adopted a beach for cleanup this Saturday morning. We also have support from IT&E which is providing t-shirts for volunteers and Bridge Capital, which provided garbage bags and gloves for six months back in June.

So far there are over 420 participants signed up and it is not too late for you to join. You can show up at one of the other scheduled cleanups or you can adopt your own beach. There are still plenty of beaches available (http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com/2009/09/weekly-email-update-september-10.html).

If you would like to RSVP on Facebook, here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117280403750.

A list of all participants can be found here:

http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com/2009/09/international-coastal-cleanup-day.html

Thanks,

Angelo

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting POSTPONED

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO PENDING STORM CONDITIONS THE GRAFFITI SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IS POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT MONDAY, September 21st.

Be storm smart and stay safe!

Weekly Email Update: September 10

Hafa Adai,

A few events of note:

(1) Posted below is a list of beaches up for adoption for the International Coastal Cleanup Day next Saturday, September 19, 2009. Beaches that are crossed out have been adopted by a group. That does not mean that you can't help out with that beach! Many hands make light work. I've adopted Tank Beach along with the rest of the Rotary Club. I'd love to have you help us out. However, we are trying to cover as many beaches as possible so we are asking volunteers to help us adopt the other beaches, too.

As you can see from the number of crossed out names, we are set to have another very successful event. Garbage bags and gloves will be available at the DEQ office next week. There number is 664 8500. Ask for Joe or Lisa.

DEQ staff will properly dispose of all trash collected. Setting a place and time for them to come pick it up is part of the sign up sheet.

If you would like to RSVP on Facebook, here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117280403750

(2) The ISK8 Club is hosting a graffiti cleanup of their skatepark this Saturday September 12. from 4:00 - 6:00 PM. The contact on that is Laurie Peterka at 483 7499. Again, to RSVP on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128714528715

(3) The meeting minutes from last week's meeting are posted online:

http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com/2009/09/draft-september-meeting-minutes.html


Thanks and have a great weekend,

Angelo



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lisa Huynh Eller
Date: Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 7:47 AM
Subject: available cleanup sites
To: Olivia Tebuteb , carlosk@deq.gov.mp, Fran Castro , "Joe M. Kaipat" , Angelo Villagomez


Hi everyone,



Please forward this list to anyone interested in signing up. The taken sites are crossed out. Everything else is open:



SAIPAN:

Wing Beach

Forbidden Island Beach

Bird Island Beach

Obyan Beach

Ladder Beach

Tank Beach

Marine Beach

Dandan Pocket Beaches

North Laolao Beach (Dive Site)

South Laolao Beach (Pavilion)

Old Man by the Sea Beach

Jeffries Beach

Agingan Point to PIC

Micro Beach (Hyatt to Smiling Cove)

Tanapag Beach

Makaka Beach (Fiesta Resort to Hafa Adai Hotel)

Coral Ocean Point

Sugar Dock heading South

Lally 4

Sugar Dock heading north to Grand Hotel

Kilili Beach

Quartermaster south to MVA

Quartermaster north to 13 Fishermen

13 Fishermen to Garapan Fishing Base

Garapan Fishing Base

Garapan Fishing Base to Hafa Adai Hotel

Paupau Beach

San Roque Beach

Cow Town Beach



TINIAN:

Long Beach



Thanks,



Lisa Huynh Eller

Federal Programs Outreach and Publications Coordinator

CNMI Division of Environmental Quality

Phone: (670) 664-8500

Fax: (670) 664-8540

lisaeller@deq.gov.mp






--
Angelo O'Connor Villagomez
Beautify CNMI

PMB 360 BOX 10001
Saipan, MP 96950

(670) 285-6462
http://www.beautifycnmi.org

Get your Donkey shirt today!
http://www.cafepress.com/saipandonkey

Committee to Elect Angelo O'Connor Villagomez
http://www.angelovillagomez.com

Graffiti Clean-Up - September 12, 2009 at 4pm

Hafa Adai Beautify CNMI Members and Friends:

Island SK8 Society is organizing a graffiti clean up

WHERE: at the skatepark at Garapan Central Park, Saipan
WHEN: Saturday, September 12th at 4pm

Please join the clean up if you have time!

Special thanks to Jeff Elliott of Seafix for donating the water blaster and Marianas Insurance Association for there donation from last year, which makes it possible for ISK8 to purchase Elephant Snot!

Elephant Snot is applied to the graffiti prior to water blasting, making it easier to remove the graffiti. For more information see http://www.graffitisolutions.com/graffiti_removal/products/elephant_snot.htm

Looking forward, ISK8 will be setting up its quarterly graffiti removal calendar and hopes to be able to include removing graffiti from other locations too, such as the Japanese cultural center installed by the Mayor's office across the street from the skatepark.

If you are interested in volunteering or looking for more information about this event, please contact ISK8 President, Johanna Arellano at sweetlil_aj_12@hotmail.com

If you are interested in joining the Beautify CNMI graffiti abatement community project, please contact Laurie Peterka laurie.peterka@gmail.com or Tyler Yoshimoto tyler_yosh@hotmail.com. The next committee meeting will be held Monday, September 14th, 5:30pm at Whispering Palms School, Navy Hill-Saipan.

=== HOW THE SKATEPARK LOOKS as of 08/14/09 ===

Draft September Meeting Minutes

Beautify CNMI September 2009 Meeting
DEQ Conference Room
Thursday, September 3, 2009
3:30 PM

I. Attendees: Angelo Villagomez, Laurie Peterka, Ian Catlett, Lisa Eller, Tyler Yoshimoto, Harrison Smith, Christina Smith, Tony Reyes, Carter Smith, Joe Kaipat, Sonia Siwa
II. Agenda Adopted
III. August Minutes Adopted
IV. Committee Reports
a. Restoration
i. Laolao Tree Planting – had a very successful event. We had over 100 volunteers and support from CRM, DEQ, Forestry, and others. Very successful event, with over 500 trees planted. Photos are on Facebook.
ii. Flame Trees – boy scouts might be able to help plant them. Laurie recommended putting something out in a community brief to see if any community groups need Flame Trees. Angelo volunteered to write a press release.
1. Angelo said he was waiting for someone to volunteer to plant all the trees – the boyscouts volunteered!
2. Koblerville was identified as a place to plant trees.
3. Boy scout meeting on Wednesday – will get back to me.
4. Tony recommended Uncle Dave help.
5. Laurie recommended we ask Rotary Club to participate
b. Junk Cars – nothing to report
c. Solid Waste
i. International Coastal Cleanup – This is the Ocean Conservancy 24th annual coastal cleanup day. People around the world are going to do cleanups all on the same day. About 10 groups have signed up on Saipan so far and several hundred volunteers. Will pick up their supplies in the week before the cleanup. The transfer station is ready to accept the trash and DEQ has 7 drivers that are going to pick up the trash around the entire island. DPW is going to leave a dumpster at fishing base to make trash hauling easier.
1. DEQ is printing 100/200 shirts
2. ITE is donating $500 for shirts.
3. Angelo asked about buying an ad in the paper. Laurie recommended we get a quote before we make the decision.
4. Laurie asked if Ocean Conservancy has any incentives for participating in the cleanup
5. First time for Tinian and Saipan. Bill Pendergrass is doing it on Rota. He is collected all the data and sending to the Ocean Conservancy.
6. Waiting on Tinian and Rota to organize a cleanup there.
7. Janet King said she was interested in participating. Laurie recommended we contact Deb Fleming.
ii. Tony Reyes recommended we put in some NO LITTERING signs. He’s worried that we leave a bad impression for tourists.
d. Parks & Trails – nothing to report
e. Graffiti
i. Graffiti has had two community meetings since the August meeting. Contact Laurie Peterka or visit the Beautify CNMI website for the minutes. The committee is meeting every two weeks. The next meeting is on the 14th of September at Whispering Palms School on Navy Hill at 5:30 PM.
ii. Going to make a photojournal of graffiti on the island
iii. Laurie is creating a list of stakeholders to participate and give feedback
iv. Zoning Board asked committee to participate in community meetings. Had a meeting in Kagman and Beach Rd
1. Kagman didn’t feel like there was a big problem with graffiti
2. The beach road side felt that there were a lot of problems. Biggest concern was how it looks for tourists.
v. Frank Camacho came to the last meeting and wants to be liason in the Dandan area because it ties into the work he’s doing with the neighborhood watch. Eric Atalig is the village captain for Susupe and is being invited to the next meeting.
vi. HANMI is being invited to participate. Working with Catherine Anderson to do a survey of the hotels to see what their concerns are and how they can participate
vii. Looking for Crime Stoppers to participate. Might be able to be a part of their commercials in the fall.
viii. John Gonzales invited committee to be on his show, wants to discuss a format.
ix. Tony Reyes recommended that we ask the paint companies for donations.
x. Laurie shared an idea where we would provide volunteers if businesses would provide supplies.
xi. Public defenders office is going to look into having painting be a form of community service.
xii. Angelo gave tshirts to Tyler. He will use them as an incentive for people to participate in the photojournal.
V. Miscellaneous
a. Bumper Stickers – Angelo will put together a press release after the Coastal Cleanup. $150 in prize money.
i. Christina recommended working in a radio promotion with the bumper stickers.
b. PIC Fundraiser – PIC donated $2500. Final number has not been confirmed yet. Photos from the event are on Facebook.
c. ITE donation – making us shirts for the coastal cleanup
VI. Other Business
a. Tony Reyes is disappointed that the wires at Susupe Beach were stolen.
VII. Adjournment

Draft Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Aug 31st

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, August 31, 2009 - 5:30pm
Whispering Palm School, Navy Hill

“Operation Paint Over --- What do we want to do about/with graffiti in our community?”

Present: Frank Camacho, Angelo Villagomez, Tyler Yoshimoto, Rebekah Yost, Mike Pai, Laurie Peterka

Email/Phone/Other: Ichiro Shirata, Nick Nishikawa, Retta Sue Hamilton, Adam Hardwicke, Jim Arenovski, Victor Barrett, John B. Gonzales

Minutes:
1. August 17th meeting minutes reviewed and adopted.
2. Share ideas (3-mins so we can give everyone a chance and allow time for discussion)
a. Frank Camacho – Neighborhood Watch, Dan Dan
i. Multiple projects – focusing on Dan Dan park
ii. Working with sanitation on issuing citations
iii. Working with zoning on issuing citations
iv. Addressing graffiti in Dan Dan Neighborhood Watch
1. Painting over existing graffiti
2. Putting lighting in to deter vandalism
v. Judge Govendo comments
1. Minors – get parents to paint over damages
2. Community service hours
b. Angelo – anti-graffiti team
i. Couple of teams of people who always have paint in their car and paint over graffiti whenever they see it
ii. Team up with Mayor’s office and/or Neighborhood Watch
3. Report from Victor on Zoning village meetings.
a. Kagman meeting
i. Uneventful – not a big showing
ii. People there didn’t seem to think they have a graffiti issue
iii. Driving through the neighborhood, it doesn’t seem too bad
b. Beach Road meeting
i. People were concerned about graffiti around the hotels
ii. Eye sore for tourists and the community
4. Report from Laurie – email communications:
a. Shirata – will come to next meeting, tied up with work obligations
b. HANMI – Nick Nishikawa and the hotel association, work with Catherine Anderson to conduct a survey via email with the hotels
c. PD’s Office – Adam Hardwicke, will provide a write up on property damage laws (graffiti) here in the CNMI.
d. Crime Stoppers - Jim Arenovski, commercial filming schedule; we can consider adding our message or program to their commercials for about $200-400
e. John B. Gonzales – interested, but not able to make this meeting; thinking about how he can incorporate the issue into one of his weekly shows
f. Neighborhood Watch – Frank B. Camacho, Dan Dan
g. NRCS – last week’s meeting; suggested as a potential project for Resource, Conservation & Development Council (RC&D) to consider; Angelo elaborated on what resources are available
5. Consider next steps:
a. Developing a stakeholder list by village; dividing up the list and begin making contact to bring those people into the discussion (Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch) – ACTION ITEM: Laurie
b. Plan out how to achieve a photo journal of the existing graffiti issues village by village – ACTION ITEM: Tyler
c. Assign one person to attend each of the remaining village-by-village Zoning meetings so that we can inquire about "graffiti" in that village – ACTION ITEM: Victor Barrett, Zoning Office to provide an email with remaining village-by-village meeting schedule so that we can share attendance duties.
d. Bring Eric Atalig, Neighborhood Watch – ACTION ITEM: Frank B. Camacho
6. Next meeting date/time/location
- Monday, Sept 14th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill

The principle concept is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Note: Current organizational partners already committed include Rotary Club of Saipan, Island SK8 Society, Crime Stoppers and HANMI.

PIC Palooza 2009

How does a respectable candidate for Mayor of Saipan dress for a themed fundraiser? Like Devo, that's how!

Pacific Islands Club Saipan put on quite an event last night. I knew it was going to go well when I started getting frantic emails, texts, and phone calls from people trying to buy tickets. The word was spreading that we sold out.

Edz and I decided at the last minute that we were going to go as Devo. I had to buy new black shorts and a t-shirt (only $5 each at Roshi's!), but Edz already had plenty of black clothes to choose from. We made our hats from those things you put underneath a flower pot. We bought four different sizes, cut holes in the middle so are heads would fit and glued them together with crazy glue. A few coats of spray paint and we were ready to bring Devo back!

When PIC decides to throw a party, they go all out. The clubmates and staff who were working the party were all decked out in costumes and when you walked through the door you were given sunglasses and glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets. They said there was going to be food, but they didn't mention that there was going to be a buffet. If the chefs at PIC could teach the rest of the world to grill a pork rib, the world would be a better place. Not only was there a big spread with all types of bite sized goodies, but waiters were walking around with hors d'oeuvres, too.

The entertainment was split between a live band, a DJ, and whatever you want to call what it was the club mates were doing on stage. Last night I kept waking up from a nightmare where Jay was bouncing around in a blonde wig and cheerleading outfit. Please God, don't make me relive that ever again.

There were several contests, drawings, and prizes. Some of the prizes were Beautify CNMI t-shirts that I brought to be handed out, but the prizes also included free brunches, water park passes, hotel stays...even hotel stays in Guam!

As luck would have it, Edz' raffle ticket was the second to last one drawn in the raffle. James Eller's was last. Instead of simply giving out the prizes, they were forced into a video game challenge; whoever got the highest score in a game of Ms. Pacman would win the better prize.

I didn't want to tell James, but Edz has a lot of practice playing Pacman (which is essentially Ms. Pacman without the bow). There is an arcade at Godfather's and she challenges the customers to play her when it is slow or after her shift ends.

The crowd was really into it. This was probably the biggest video game challenge the island of Saipan has ever seen.

But James never really stood a chance, although he put up a valiant effort. Edz took home the championship without hardly even trying.

For second place James received a waterpark pass for two to PIC and Edz took home a one night stay at Pacific Islands Club Guam. There was only one problem: Edz can't go to Guam without a US Visa. Doh!

We traded our gift certificate for one free night on Saipan.

At the end of the night Kieran Daly, General Manager of the Pacific Islands Club, announced they had raised over $2500 for Beautify CNMI! and PAWS...each!!!! I nearly hit the floor when I heard. $2500 is enough money to pay for cleanups for a year. I never expected such a generous donation, especially after all the advertising they did and all the money they spent on staff, food, and drinks.

Thank you, Pacific Islands Club!

More photos are posted at the Beautify CNMI Fan Page on Facebook.

Operation Paint Over --- How do we want to deal with graffiti in our community?

This will be our second meeting. If you didn't get a chance to join us the first time, please come ---we are still very much in the planning stages.

When: Monday, August 31st, 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Where: Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill (park where you can and look for sign on the door)

Agenda/Objectives:

1. Review meeting minutes from prior meeting.
2. Share ideas (3-mins so we can give everyone a chance and allow time for discussion)
3. Report from Victor on Zoning village meetings.
4. Consider next steps:

• Developing a stakeholder list by village; dividing up the list and begin making contact to bring those people into the discussion (Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch)


• Plan out how to achieve a photo journal of the existing graffiti issues village by village


• Assign one person to attend each of the remaining village-by-village Zoning meetings so that we can inquire about "graffiti" in that village
  
  

5. Confirm next meeting date/time/location - Monday, Sept 14th, 5:30p, Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill

The principle concept is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.

Note: Current organizational partners already committed include Rotary Club of Saipan and Island SK8 Society.

Questions can be directed to Laurie Peterka (483-7499) laurie.peterka@saipan.com or Tyler Yoshimoto at tyler_yosh@hotmail.com

See or forward our FaceBook event link at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122455452421&ref=mf

Weekly Email Update: August 27

Hafa Adai,

This week's email isn't much different from last week's. We continue to sign volunteers up for next month's CNMI International Coastal Cleanup Day. We are looking for volunteer groups to adopt a stretch of beach for cleanup on Saturday, September 19, 2009. You set the time of your cleanup and organize your own volunteers, and we'll provide supplies and garbage pickup. The supplies were donated by Bridge Capital and will be available for pickup the week before the event and DEQ staff will haul all trash collected to the transfer station for weighing and proper disposal.

If you participated in April's Island Wide Cleanup, you know how this works. Email me for a sign up sheet.

There is also a fundraiser being held at PIC this weekend for PAWS and Beautify CNMI. PIC Palooza has an 80's theme and includes food and drink for $25. It should be a really good time and we'll raise money for two great organizations. Tickets are available from PIC or from me (help me out, I'm supposed to sell 20!).

I hope to see you there!

Angelo

PS I gave away about 10 of the 50 donated Flame Trees to one of the local schools. If somebody could help me move the remaining trees from Capital Hill to someplace where we can plant them, we could plant them on Saturday or Sunday morning. I have one shovel and fertilizer.

CNMI Coastal Cleanup Day

Beautify CNMI began its fourth year of service this year. Started with the simple idea of making the Commonwealth a better to live and visit, for going on four years now we've cleaned up beaches, roads, and tourist sites, planted trees, painted over graffiti, and promoted recycling and coral reef conservation.

In our first year we planned and executed an island wide cleanup called 1020 on 10/20, with the idea of having at least 1020 volunteers help us spruce up the island on October 20, 2006. Not only did we reach our goal of 1020, but we surpassed it by recruiting over 3000 volunteers.

Earlier this year in April we did it again and were even more successful. The weekend before Earth Day 2009, 27,070 lbs of trash were picked up by 4,140 volunteers from 61 volunteer groups at 54 adopted sites on Saipan.

Next month we hope to do it again with CNMI Coastal Cleanup Day.

Following the same model as the other two large cleanups, we are asking volunteer groups to adopt a beach for a day (and hopefully for a year!). We'll provide the tools and the trash pickup, you just provide the volunteers and a little bit of coordination.

From the Division of Environmental Quality:

Hundreds of volunteers throughout the CNMI are expected to clean their beaches next month as part of the world’s largest volunteer cleanup effort.

The 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup is Saturday, September 19 – from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate. Saipan and Tinian are scheduled to participate on September 19, and Rota’s event is on Friday September 18.

On Saipan, a number of groups have already adopted beaches, including South Lao Lao and Cow Town, according to the Division of Environmental Quality. However, dozens of other beaches still need volunteers.

Several groups are working together to coordinate events on Saipan and Tinian, and the Coastal Resources Management Office is taking the lead on Rota.

The International Coastal Cleanup is the world's largest volunteer effort to help protect the ocean, according to the Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to protecting ocean environments and marine life.

Last year, nearly 400,000 volunteers hit their local beaches, lakes, and rivers with a common mission of improving the health of the ocean and waterways. On one day, they removed and tallied 6.8 million pounds of debris, from 6,485 sites in 100 countries and 42 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

DEQ will retrieve and properly dispose of the trash collected from the cleanup on Saipan.

Cleanup supplies – garbage bags and gloves which were purchased with funds from a generous Bridge Capital donation – will be available at DEQ the week before the cleanup.

Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for the event so that organizers may arrange for proper pick up and disposal of garbage.

To request a signup sheet for Saipan or Tinian, contact Lisa Huynh Eller, Olivia Tebuteb or Carlos Ketebengang, DEQ, at 664-8500 or email - lisaeller@deq.gov.mp. For information about Rota’s event, contact William T. Pendergrass, ICC Coordinator, or MJ Taisacan, CRMO Administrative Clerk, at 532-0466 or fax 532-1000.

Contact me for a sign up sheet and I will send you one. We will have a listing of all the cleanups up on the Beautify CNMI website soon.

In the meantime, photos from this year's Island Wide Cleanup can be found on the Beautify CNMI Facebook Fan Page here and here.

Draft Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Aug 17th

Beautify CNMI Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, August 17, 2009 - 5:30pm
Whispering Palm School, Navy Hill

“Operation Paint Over --- What do we want to do about/with graffiti in our community?”

Present: Laurie Peterka, John Yoon, Tyler Yoshimoto, Ichiro Shirata, Mike Pai, Rebekah Yost, Victor Barrett, David C. Sablan

Email Notes shared with group were sent in by: Penny Hofschneider, Liz Swain, Joanna Durvall, Andrea Carr, Cinta Kaipat, Michael Brazel

Agenda/Objectives:
1. Introductions
a. Laurie – Skatepark, skaters, initial paint over project
b. Rebekah – students want to participate in community projects
c. John Yoon – student interested in community service (MBA senior)
d. Tyler Yoshimoto – student interested in community service (SIS senior)
e. Victor Barrett – New Zoning Administrator wants to work with community to make strides towards urban planning that is walkable, usable
f. Ichihiro Shirata – Tasi Tours, interested in environmental issues, seeing how we can deal with graffiti from a tourism perspective
g. Mike Pai – OPA, the community needs to address the graffiti issue as an eye sore to the community and to tourism
2. Shared ideas
a. Rebekah – lighthouse renovation, clean up, invite students to install murals “life as we know it”; ownership; buy a wall; tourist attraction
i. Who is responsible for the building
ii. It is historically registered
iii. Renew the program annual or bi-annually
iv. Contest to encourage ongoing participation
b. Tyler – taking pictures of graffiti on buildings and focusing first on getting graffiti cleaned up at private properties
i. Zoning can help by citing owners to get them to help clean up
ii. Set up a schedule of villages through business community to get existing defacement corrected
iii. Studies show that urban decay encourages theft, burglary, general disrespect
iv. An abandon building could be used for community center to give kids something to do
v. Junk cars need to be removed --- junk cars are 3-dimensional graffiti
c. Mike Pai – education programs at a young age
i. Look at peer pressure, boredom, anger/family issues
ii. Start with educating the parents
iii. Need to have a message in a hard-hitting public relations campaign that works into everyday language --- creates a new stigma, habit, subliminal suggestion
iv. We need a long-term set of goals and plan that move together in harmony
v. Instill a message of respect for the public realm
d. Victor – a start to a plan
i. Zoning is already on a schedule to start holding village meetings
ii. Victor could give us a slot on their agenda to feel out the communities concerns; they are going village by village
iii. First meeting is in Kagman – Wednesday, Aug 19th, 6pm, Kagman Community Center
3. Short recap of results
a. Projects could be/need to be set up to take place in stages – one on the heels of another in a logical order; for example, maybe target a string of events village-by-village
i. Start with a clean up
ii. Follow up with a mural contest
iii. Result is buy-in, removal of eye sore, and ownership of community public space
b. We project that we will need several meetings before we have an outline of our goals, plans and a timeline
c. It is imperative that all community organizations and business organizations get involved in the overall plan so that we can incorporate as many stakeholders as possible; currently we only have the commitment of the Rotary Club of Saipan and Island SK8 Society; tonight we add the CNMI Zoning Office
d. Overall, this committee’s objectives should be to offer support to a network of projects much like network-marketing with this committee at the top of the pyramid
e. Keep our expectations in accordance to what is reasonable and possible; in other words make a long term plan and take care implementing it rather than taking an ad hoc or one-off approach
4. Identify groups and/or leaders – tabled until further notice
5. Identify a standard day/time for meetings – Mondays, 5:30pm; start with two-weeks then move to once a month
6. Identify a standard location for meetings – Whispering Palms School at Navy Hill
7. Set next meeting – August 31st

Beautify CNMI looking for volunteers, coconuts

Phase II of the Laolao Revegetation Project is set to take place this Sunday, August 16 at 8:00 AM. Started in 2005, the long-term project aims to protect the Laolao Bay Watershed by reducing the amount of sediment accumulating on the adjacent coral reefs. Planting trees has been found to reduce the amount of erosion on hillsides.

Organizers are looking for at least 100 volunteers to participate. The Division of Forestry will drive saplings into the revegetation project area on the day of the planting, but the trees will have be hand carried up and down the hillsides to their eventual planting sites.

According to co-organizer Angelo Villagomez of Beautify CNMI, the Saipan Marianas Lions Club and several local families have pledged to volunteer. Villagomez added, “You can never have enough helping hands during these tree plantings, so I hope we get a lot of volunteer help for this one.”

Villagomez is also asking the community to donate coconuts for the planting day.

This will be the first time coconuts are used at the revegetation site. Coconuts are being used because they are likely to survive the acidic soil and poor growing conditions of the badlands.

Contact Villagomez at angelovillagomez@gmail.com or 670 285 6462 to donate coconuts, especially saplings.

“I’m hoping that people can just drop the coconuts off in Kagman, but if they contact me early enough in the week I think we can arrange to have them picked up,” said Villagomez.

Organizers are asking volunteers to meet at the Santa Soledad Church in Kagman at 7:45 AM. Tools, gloves, water, and a light snack will be provided, however volunteers are still encouraged to bring a bottle of water, sunscreen, hiking shoes, and a hat. All volunteers for the Laolao Community Planting Day will receive a limited edition Beautify CNMI or Laolao Revegeation Project t-shirt.

Seven acres of tree saplings were planted at the site in 2006. Over 800 saplings and 250 cuttings consisting of six native species were planted and nearly 5000 native seeds were broadcast, including three garbage bags full of softball sized Barringtonia asiatica seeds, all of which sprouted. Six species of tree saplings were planted that year including Sosugi (Acacia Confusa), Kamachili (Pithecolobium dulce), Banalo (Thespesia populnea), Gaogao flores (Erythrina sp.), Da’ok (Calophyllum inophyllum), and Pago (Hibiscus).

The event is sponsored by the Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resources Management Office, Beautify CNMI, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Coral Reef Initiative.

Draft August Minutes

Beautify CNMI August 2009 Meeting
DEQ Conference Room
Thursday, August 6, 2009
3:30 PM

I. Attendees: Angelo Villagomez, Tyler Yoshimoto, Joe Kaipat, Carl Brachear, Lian Brachear
II. Agenda Adopted
III. July Minutes Adopted – Angelo will post on website
IV. Committee Reports
a. Restoration – Angelo
i. Laolao tree planting day is on August 16. Looking for 100 volunteers to help
ii. CRM is providing food
iii. DEQ is providing water, t-shirts. They are also doing press releases and fliers.
iv. Forestry is bringing trees.
v. Angelo will coordinate the donation of coconuts and will bring some Beautify CNMI t-shirts
vi. Hoping that USDA will provide Earth Team Coverage
vii. Angelo will need help finding volunteers.
b. Junk Cars – nothing to report
c. Solid Waste – Joe
i. Kathy could not make the meeting, but updated Joe on the MINA grant. They are still waiting on approval
ii. July 4 cleanup – volunteers cleaned 2500 lbs of trash along the parade route
iii. Kagman Biology Club cleaned up 1200 lbs of trash in July. Scheduled to do another cleanup on August 15.
iv. DEQ cleanup brigade got rained out this month
v. A company donated 12 empty oil drums. Joe wants to donate them to Parks and Rec or the Mayors.
vi. Dandan Community Watch is doing a cleanup of the Dandan Children’s Park this Saturday at 8 AM. Will clean the park and plant trees. We are donating trash bags and gloves.
vii. We are still waiting on our order of rubber gloves from Brabu.
viii. PDM Promoters did their cleanup.
d. Parks & Trails – nothing to report
e. Graffiti – Tyler
i. Created an email notification list. Discusses the ideas behind the graffiti campaign, the background of the reasons for the campaign. There are 18 people of the committee so far.
ii. Will contact DYS to participate
iii. Planning on having a meeting before August ends.
iv. ISK8 is meeting on August 6 to discuss graffiti. Hoping that they start a weekly graffiti cleanup.
v. MegaBYTE is going to donate 50% of the cost of a pressure washer and will store and maintain it.
vi. Had an idea to take picture of graffiti on a business and show it to the business owner. Ask the business owner for support if we help them.
vii. Will eventually looking for business support and government support. Several people threw out some ideas.
V. Miscellaneous
a. Bumper Stickers – We will do a bumper sticker and slogan contest starting in September. Will use $150 Bridge Capital donation.
b. PIC Fundraiser – PICpalooza on August 29. 80’s theme. $25 per person, funds to be split by PAWS and Beautify CNMI. A portion of this money will be used to purchase the bumper stickers in October.
c. RC&D Handouts – Angelo handed out papers from RC&D discussing their program. The organization is looking to rebuild in Saipan and is looking for Saipan Island Committee members.
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjournment

Approved July Minutes

Beautify CNMI July 2009 Meeting
DEQ Conference Room
Thursday, July 2, 2009
3:30 PM

I. Attendees – Angelo Villagomez, Kathleen Hermann, Joe Kaipat, Ken Kramer, Sharisse Rivera, Aya Matsumoto, Laurie Peterka, Sonia Silva
II. Adoption of Agenda
III. Assignment of Secretary – Angelo Villagomez appointed group Secretary
IV. Committee Reports
a. Restoration
i. Historical areas – nothing to report
ii. Reveg (Kathleen Hermann) – Laolao planting day planned for August 16 at 8:00 AM. NRCS, Forestry, CRMO, DEQ, and Beautify CNMI met to plan the event
1. Forestry is growing 400-500 plants
2. DEQ is purchasing 100 t-shirts and flyers
3. CRMO and Angelo are going to look for money to pay for food
4. Sharisse is going to write a press release, look for volunteers at NMC. Angelo will also help recruit volunteers
5. Angelo made a site visit, will forward results to partners. Planting coconuts at the site was brought up. It was suggested that people bring coconuts to the event.
6. An illegal road has been plowed into the reveg site.
7. Angelo asked about the $3 million grant for laolao reveg. Kathleen said that $2.5 million will pave road. $0.5 million will go to reveg, marine monitoring, signage, local coordinator & staff.
8. Restoration committee will have a meeting at the beginning of August to finalize the event.
b. Junk Cars – nothing to report
c. Solid Waste (Joe Kaipat) – Grant to MINA to support marine debris is on hold until stimulus money arrives
i. Grant will put garbage bins on beaches.
ii. Looking for community support. Planning community meetings. Going to ask people to pay for bins at beaches, perhaps in villages.
iii. Ken asked about the coral reef video made by DEQ. Asked about running it on TV.
iv. Weekly cleanups with FMI. 360 lbs last week.
v. PDM Promoters has a cleanup this weekend.
vi. Joe suggested Beautify CNMI cleanup at the end of the parade in t-shirts. The group liked this idea.
vii. Meeting with Parade group today. Angelo will promote the event if we get permission.
viii. Garbage bags and gloves are available for cleanups at DEQ.
d. Parks & Trails – Dan Lamar submitted written report. Available on Beautify CNMI blog at: http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com/
e. Graffiti (Laurie Peterka) – Tyler and Laurie met before he went on vacation. Drafting an email to recruit volunteers. Email explains concept of committee. Gives background on why we are pursuing this and some background. Have been researching projects from other communities. ISKI, Rotary, MVA, MTEC, Mywave, local schools, PDO, AGO have been talked to. Going to talk to Legislature, and Crimestoppers.
i. Angelo suggested talking to LEEP, JPO, Crime Prevention DPS.
V. Miscellaneous
a. Bridge Capital Donation – Bridge Capital donated $2000 to Beautify CNMI. The funds are in the PAWS bank account. Angelo will purchase supplies and PAWS will refund him.
b. PAWS WARS – A very successful event was held.
c. PIC Fundraiser – August 29, 80’s theme, all proceeds to benefit PAWS and Beautify CNMI. $25 per person.
d. Champion & Steward Awards – Handed out
e. Bumper Stickers – Angelo has had a few requests for bumper stickers.
i. The group is going to have a slogan/bumper sticker contest to end the first week of September. Angelo will coordinate this.
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjournment

Operation: Paint Over

Recently we (Tyler Yoshimoto and Laurie Peterka) were named chairs for a Beautify CNMI subcommittee tasked to come up with a project focused on eradicating graffiti in Saipan.

How and why did this happen? Well, you see, over the last year and half, we've been involved with the Island SK8 Society. In the process of waiting for our skatepark to be completed (and since then) our group has volunteered and either painted over graffiti in the community or removed it from the skatepark. While graffite is an art, it shouldn't be at the expense of private property owners and/or degrading or detracting from the CNMI's natural beauty!

During a few skatepark gatherings a couple of months ago, some of us were brainstorming about what to do about the graffiti at the skatepark. Some ideas were tossed around. At first, we thought that we would try to install video surveillance cameras at the park, but it is proving to be too costly of an addition; so the idea has been shelved for now. Hiring a security guard is also an option, but again, we have limited funding so we have to think about whether this is worth paying out our hard-earned donations. We (ISK8) think not --- there must still be another way.

Another idea that came up was trying to organize "graffiti walls" as part of the skatepark. Ironically, skaters get blamed for "tagging" and graffiti, but of the skaters that we know, the majority are actually against the idea of random graffiti. They especially don't appreciate that someone is now tagging their skatepark on a regular basis. It has become a parttime job just trying to keep up with removing the graffiti just from the skatepark.

According to Tyler Yoshimoto (this committee's co-chair), the general idea is to install a recreational wall in the skate park. We can then cover this wall with a type of sheet, that may be replaced from time to time, to provide for a better alternative to doing graffiti in places where it should not be done. This way, the graffitiers will be encouraged not to graffiti local buildings or the skate park, while, at the same time, being able to showcase their artistic talents to other kids on the island.

After tossing some ideas around in random conversations and giving it some thought (and we are not entirely sure how it would work or if it would work) but wonder about the possibility of creating an education-type program that would include a multi-directional approach --- we could give it a fun name like, Operation: Paint Over (or some other hip, cool, non-derogatory, catchy name). Maybe it would be cool to create a program that brings together various components of the community.

Just a few ideas and people/groups that either Tyler or I have spoken with casually: Beautify CNMI, ISK8, Rotary Club, MTEC/MyWave, someone from each of the public high schools, the Public Defenders Office --- some others that I think would be good partners, but have not yet spoken to include Attorney General's Office, DPS, DYS, DCCA, LEAP, Boy Scouts, Youth Congress...I am sure that some of you might have other ideas and will look forward to all input before setting our goals and kicking off!

Anyway, the point of this email: we need somewhere to get started, so this is it --- we are emailing you to ask if you want to help or if you would pass along this message to someone that you know that might want to help.

I spent a little time looking at a couple of websites that you might find interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/graffiti-tagging.htm

http://www.graffitihurts.org/community_resources/adopt_a_block.cfm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=graffiti+and+vandalism&aq=3&oq=graffiti+AND+&aqi=g10


Please reply with a quick note to let us know whether you are interested or not (and, please, if you pass this message on to anyone else, we would appreciate it if you would include Tyler and I in the cc line so that we can get an idea of who gets this email).

The time frame for kicking off this project is late August/early September. I hope that you will take an interest and at least let us know if you are interested in helping.

Thanks for your time!

Laurie Peterka, Practical Solutions, laurie.peterka@saipan.com
& Tyler Yoshimoto, senior student MBA, tyler_yosh@hotmail.com

Local Student Wins Essay Contest

The essay contest to find a local person to join our expedition to Maug ended last night. Two essays stood out, one from a young student and the other from a young teacher. In the end we chose the student, but the vote was not unanimous.

Dennis Chan of San Vicente, an 18 year recent high school graduate, will accompany us to the island of Maug next Monday.

Congrats, Dennis.

Friends of the Monument
July 13, 2009

Why I Want to Visit the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument

I am eighteen and have just graduated from high school. I am no fishermen, not an excellent swimmer, cannot dive into meters deep water and wrestle whales. I’m from Saipan and if were chosen would well-represent my age group. I want so badly to get on that boat to Maug to experience the greater Marianas.

People my age, my fellow graduates and many of my friends still in high school easily diss the commonwealth, their Saipan that they reside in. Whether it is the government, school or the smallness they feel holds them. Our memories are still fresh of the summer of 2008 in the rolling blackouts in the sweat. I’m sure we love Saipan, I love Saipan, we swim at beaches, climb down, climb up the stairs of the grotto, and stroll the street market, however there’s a perception that we know all there is to know, we’ve sucked all the sap there is on Saipan. It’s been said that Saipan is a bore. Our eyes look to taller buildings, the malls of the mainland. We sigh, jaded and discontent after signing in, signing off, signing in, signing off, Myspace, Facebook, waiting for that viral video to load—we sigh worn with the immediacy of the Internet. “Saipan sucks.” My home sucks. This commonwealth sucks. Nothing’s happening. I’ve heard these things many times. My perception and theirs are limited to what we know. I feel strongly that there is something beautiful, not as immediate as a video on Youtube, but ever present. More reliable than whatever government is in place, more reliable than your water or electricity, more secure than an accredited college status—Saipan is not the Marianas, the Marianas rolls in blue expanse over miles and miles and settles some in the green and the trees and the beaches. I want to go to Maug and see this happen.

Perception is always jolted with new experience. I spent a week in Tinian without the internet or decent showers, kept awake with damp and smelly tents. We camped at Tachungnya. Our head instructor Ms. Valencourt remarked at the campfire how she gathered from what she heard, that we kids thought Tinian to be a foreign country. Tinian is right next door! Tinian is our sister and brother. Tinian holds so much history—I stood over the uncovered pits of Little Boy and Fat Man and was overwhelmed, viewed pictures of cities obliterated and was grave.

I may not speak for all my age, but our perception of fun forms in that media mold: what TV offers, what they say. But there is grandness here; there was on Tinian. On Tinian where Tachungnya houses fish a few feet from shore—the butterfly fish and its second rear eye swims by, on Tinian where the limestone trail deters to an edge to a view filled with blue, green and beach, on Tinian were destruction sat in pits that should have never been dug. Tinian has no theater, no stop lights, we joke, and yet Tinian was unique. All of us Saipan campers agreed on this.

That was all a tease though. Tinian’s become a tickle, and I think there might be more. I want to see the rest of my Marianas because I tasted Tinian.

Tinian is a ferry ride away and I felt it was another world. I’m naive for it, and maybe naive in thinking partly that a trip to Maug would render me to some enlightening epiphany. I want to go because I know I’d appreciate it. I want to go because I am young and feel the universe expanding, running and that I better catch up, or keep a good pace before it escapes me.
To the north on a boat to Maug maybe I’d get to know my home more—the greater Marianas. Maybe I’d taste some great fish, share in words that bewildered me and maybe other youth will read and decide to see for themselves. I want to go because I believe that the monument reveals and protects a Marianas with a different, better thrill than we, my age, have imagined finding elsewhere. But I want to know firsthand.

Dennis Chan
San Vicente

Win a Trip to the Northern Islands

A member of the Friends of the Monument has agreed to pay for a local young person to visit the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and several of the Northern Islands later this month. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, wants a local person to experience visiting the uninhabited islands to the north. The donor hopes that the winner will share their experience with their families, friends, and classmates through photos and a daily journal.

The Friends of the Monument are holding an essay contest to select which young person gets to go on the trip scheduled for July 20 - 30.

The topic for the essay contest is “Why I want to visit the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.” The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 13, at 5pm. Essays must be in Microsoft Word format and e-mailed to marianamonument@gmail.com. There is a 1,000 word limit for the essay. Applicants must be between 18-25 years old.

The winning essay writer will earn a seat on a boat leaving for Maug on July 20, 2009. All transportation and food costs will be paid for by the donor. If for any reason the boat trip is canceled, the winner will have a seat on the next planned expedition.

The winner will be expected to keep a daily journal that will be published on the Friends of the Monument blog found at http://marianamonument.blogspot.com.

Liberation Day Parade

At about 4:30 PM on Thursday afternoon towards the end of the monthly Beautify CNMI meeting, Joe Kaipat asked those in attendance if they would be interested in doing a cleanup after the Liberation Day Parade. More specifically, would the members be interested in following the tail end of the parade to hand out garbage bags and pick up litter?

We all thought it was a great idea and with less than 48 hours before the start of the parade set out to organize ourselves. Did I mention the Thursday workday was over and Friday was a holiday?

We started off by securing one of the Division of Environmental Quality trucks and calling the Division of Parks & Recreation and the Mayor's Office to see if we would even be allowed to do this. Parks & Rec had no problem and gave us their blessing. The Mayor's Office told us to call Jack Omar at Emergency Management Office. Jack told us to call Felipe Atalig, who told us to come to the pre-parade meeting starting right now at the Liberation Day festival grounds.

Once at the meeting we filled out an application and got the approval of the parade committee. Then they set about assigning the parade order, but we didn't have to stick around for that because we were going to go last!

We needed to announce our plans in the media, so we ran over to the Saipan Tribune office and asked one of the reporters to write a story. Even though it was past the normal deadline to submit a story, they published an article in Friday's paper.

Then we set about recruiting volunteers and asking for support. DEQ provided a truck and rubber gloves, I donated garbage bags, bottled water and McDonald's cheeseburgers, Pacific Eagle gave us a truck and volunteers, Laurie Peterka gave her truck and drove, and Artman gave us a 20 foot dumpster and paid for the trash removal. We also used the Beautify CNMI trash trailer built with funds from the Bank of Guam.

I also donated 25 color copies of the Beautify CNMI logo and website, which we used to decorate the trucks.

With everything set, our plan for the parade was simple enough. We would hand out garbage bags and collect trash along the parade route.

Oreo helped out from the back of the truck donated by Representative Waki. I was amazed at how many people on the parade route knew his name. He might just rival Brad Ruszala in popularity. I had no idea!

While the thought of being an unpaid garbage man for a day crossed my mind, I found our event to be a great experience. As we walked the streets asking people if they needed a garbage bag, you could see a light go on, "Oh yeah, a garbage bag. Now I won't have to leave my 50 empty beer cans and plastic plates under this tree."

After we handed out the bags, instead of leaving all their trash on the road, people would start cleaning up their area. Entire families would pitch in to help. It was repeated every ten feet and was amazing to watch.

I loved all the cheers of "Beautify CNMI!" and the "thank yous" and "good jobs" we got along the parade route. I'm sure that's par for marching in a parade, but it has been decades since I marched in a parade (unless I was dressed as a giant dog and making $6.10/hour).

At the end of the parade route we did a U-turn and brought the trash back to the trash bin on the Aldan property next to Star Water.

On the way back down Beach Road I noticed that there was hardly any litter. Where there was trash, it was sitting by the road in one of our blue garbage bags.

Mission Accomplished.

It only took us a few minutes to unload the trash into the dumpster provided by Artman. I don't know what we would have done without their help.

After unloading the trash from our trucks, the Ogomoro family, who was barbecuing at that spot, offered us some of their food and their beer.

Over beers we all decided that this was going to have to become an annual event.

Parks & Trails July Report

This was submitted by Dan Lamar at the yesterday's monthly meeting:

July 2009

Re: Trails and Parks Committee Report

As the newly appointed head of the Trails and Parks committee, I will give a brief online report, as I will probably not be able to attend the meeting today due to work commitments.

First, I invite anyone with interest in the Parks and Trails of the CNMI to join me in this committee - and if you know of someone who maybe interested - let me know.

I have little knowledge of the history of this committee. Those of you who know of past and current efforts related to Parks and Trails, please share your knowledge with me - I would like to take advantage of any momentum that may exist from past efforts.

Beyond an initial goal of establishing a working committee, I have begun discussing with a few friends the idea of creating a network of inland parks and trails that will connect with our coastal parks.

Imagine hiking from Obyan Beach to the Bird Island Lagoon Beach using a trail map instead of a road map:

-------- Hmm - the trail forks here. According to the map - the Forbidden trail is a mile that way? Should I camp there tonight or at that Rainforrest Cloud Camp - supposed to be here - tucked somewhere in the valley between G-U-A-L-A R-A-I and Mt Tapochau. Should I take the trail that gives me the best view of the "
"Azure Western Lagoon, Mangaha, and Phillipine Sea" or the "Rugged Eastern Shoreline and Pacific Ocean", with access to snorkling in Crescentic Lau Lau bay, and Cliff Lines Vista's Overhanging the Ocean". I could even stop and play a round of golf at Lau Lau Bay Golf Resort- buty that would be cheating sort of - still - might be fun. What's that sound - a deer? Kind of loud - maybe a wild pig or boar? Whoa - Look at that bird - Is it a Marianas fruit dove? Where's my binocs. Good thing there's no snakes here. Centipedes do scare me though. I wonder if I can I live on coconuts and wild avocados for three days? Ouch. Why didn't I bring any mosquito repellant? Wow, what a brilliant sunset there through the trees. I'll just go over to that ridge so I can see it better. Spectacular! A green flash! My first! I don't believe it! Let me put that down in my diary right now. Now where's the trail? There's some orange plastic tape- Maybe that's the trail. What's this - a sign? "Droolbag was here- beware of orange tape and Circle Jerks" What's THAT mean? That was no help at all. Wow, it's really dark in this forest - I wonder what kind of trees these are. Darn flashlight. I knew I should have bought new batteries. I can't see a thing. Owww! That hurt. Is that blood? Do they have 911 here. I knew I should have brought my cellphone! -------

What fond memories a trail/park system could help create.

This network could connect to road and mountain bike trails and even be accessed by public transportation powered by renewable resouces. The trail to Obyan could begin at the airport - making it convenient for a tourist to enyoy the natural wonders of Saipan without ever - God Forbid - staying at one of our resort hotels. Well maybe it would be ok as a last RESORT.

Think there might be some local residents and Eco travelers who might utilize an interconnected system of parks and trails - and think about it not just on Saipan but on Tinian and Rota as well. And then there is always what is for me the unexplored frontier - the Northern Islands - beckoning.

Anyway, this is a tiny part of the day dream that I shared with Angelo and Laurie P a couple of weeks ago and resulted the next week in discovering, as I read the paper, that I was now Chairman of Parks and Trails Committee.

Anyone else who has similar day dreams - and wants to help make them a realtiy - lets go hiking/booney stomping together.

Respectfully submitted

Daniel